Current research and/or professional activities:
Antifreeze proteins :
Antifreeze proteins are found in a wide range of cold adapted organisms, and they contribute to their freeze resistance. Antifreeze proteins adsorb to the ice surface and inhibit the growth of ice crystals. The goal of this project is to investigate the mechanism by which antifreeze proteins protect against the damage typically inflicted by cold, including the underlying molecular mechanism of ice-binding. We also explore their applications in cryopreservation.

Membrane proteins :
Approximately one-third of all proteins are located in biological membranes. Membrane proteins have diverse biological functions, and it is estimated that they constitute at least half of all therapeutic drug targets. Structural elucidation of membrane proteins remains challenging, and less than 2% are structurally characterized. We utilize both solution and solid state NMR techniques to investigate membrane proteins in solution and in their native environment, in membranes.

Chiral nanoparticles:
Quantum dots are nanometer size semiconductor crystals with excellent and tunable electronic and optical properties. Colloidal quantum dots consist of an inorganic semiconductor core (e.g. CdSe) and an organic capping ligand shell (e.g. cysteine). The objective of this study is to determine how chiral organic ligands induce chiroptical activity in achiral semiconductor QDs and how QDs can be used to enhance the chiroptical signal of biomolecules. Chiral QDs are promising candidates for bioimaging, biosensing, environmental nanoassays, catalysis, and chiral memory.